Overview
IERAPETRA wastewater treatment plant serves the municipality of Ierapetra in Crete, Greece, with a designed capacity of 1.00 and a population equivalent of 18,400. It operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC.
The IERAPETRA wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Ierapetra, in the Lasithi regional unit of Crete, Greece. It serves a population equivalent of 18,400, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum. For discharges into sensitive areas, such as coastal zones or freshwater bodies, more stringent tertiary treatment may be mandated. The plant's location on the island of Crete, with its Mediterranean climate and tourism-driven seasonal population fluctuations, influences operational demands. The treated effluent from the IERAPETRA plant is discharged into the local environment, ultimately reaching the Libyan Sea. The receiving water body is part of the broader Mediterranean basin, which supports diverse marine life and is ecologically sensitive. Proper treatment is essential to protect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems in this region.
Environmental context
The IERAPETRA plant discharges into the local watershed, which drains into the Libyan Sea, part of the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal area supports seagrass meadows and marine biodiversity, making nutrient and pollutant control critical. The plant's operation helps protect downstream ecosystems, including fisheries and tourism-dependent coastal zones.
Frequently asked questions
The IERAPETRA wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Ierapetra, in the Lasithi regional unit on the island of Crete, Greece.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 18,400, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately flows into the Libyan Sea, part of the Mediterranean Sea.
As a Greek facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent.
For medium agglomerations in Greece, secondary treatment is standard. In coastal or sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be required to protect marine ecosystems.
Nearby plants